Keys trip: upper vs middle

makade · #1 04-10-2010, 10:43 AM

Anybody got any insight on the middle keys vs upper? I am trying to plan a trip this summer and narrowing it down to a couple of places. One is in Key largo, and then there are a couple of options in Marathon and Key Colony Beach. I'm looking at renting a house for a week. I feel since we'll be there for a while its worth getting further down towards Marathon? Also I have young kids to keep happy, so it's not just a fishing trip. I would like to get on some super shallow reefs for snorkeling with the family. Any advice will be much appreciated.

MasterBaiter · #2 04-10-2010, 12:24 PM

In my humble - albeit biased opinion, I would go for the middle keys. Key colony beach in particular (I have a place there). I always view the upper keys as the "high rent district". The uppers are closer to their hump - 8 miles I think, and they have Pennecamp, but on my way out to the Marathon Hump (25 miles) I usually get stopped on a weedline for dolfin. KCB has a pool club for the kids, tennis, golf that sort of stuff. It is close to ocean or Gulf fishing. Snorkeling is great 5 miles to coffins patch or 8 miles to Sombrero light - both protected areas loaded with fish and sealife. Try to avoid the outgoing tide because the visability drops. You can pretty much walk to everything - a plus after happy hour @ Sparky's. A word of caution - the speed limits there are enforced!!! Lots of great resturants nearby and most houses are on the water.

Again IMHO.

Blue_Heron · #3 04-11-2010, 09:46 PM

I agree with Tucker. The middle keys are much more family friendly too. We stay on long key at Limetree Bay Resort. Been going there for mini season for 10+ years. There are several nice snorkeling reefs in the vicinity of coffins patch just off Marathon, 5'-12' deep with a great variety of sea life.

And if you want to take the kids fishing, there's plenty of mangrove snapper on the bay side in the 10"-16" size range, perfect size for preteen kids. If you drift the banks along the boundary of Everglades National Park about 10 miles north of marathon, you might find a few spotted sea trout mixed in with the snapper. Try a Berkeley Gulp on a lead head jig under a popping cork.

If you end up at Key Colony Beach and want to go bay side, be aware that the tide sometimes rips through Vaca Cut at 6+ knots. I've seen it throw up an 18" wake from the bridge pilings. It can get treacherous if you're not expecting it.
Dave

makade · #4 04-12-2010, 11:07 AM

Thanks for the great tips, I hope to nail down a place in the next week or so. Lots of options!

Snookerd · #5 04-15-2010, 11:19 AM

I have stayed at both places for a week each with small kids, FWIW-KCB is one of a kind for a private, safe area and very cool. I stayed in Tavernier for a week with my family and another family. Not all SeaCraft members are currently reminded or ever experienced the needs of mom and kids being happy for a week on vacation. North Keys have closer access to multiple kid friendly oceanside boatable locations / fishing offshore. Throw in the landside activities like the waterpark, Pennekamp, Dairy queen, ect. and MOM and KIDS will be HAPPY.

Then YOU can enjoy what you want to do THE MOST!

NoBones · #6 04-15-2010, 10:58 PM

Quote:

I have stayed at both places for a week each with small kids, FWIW-KCB is one of a kind for a private, safe area and very cool. I stayed in Tavernier for a week with my family and another family. Not all SeaCraft members are currently reminded or ever experienced the needs of mom and kids being happy for a week on vacation. North Keys have closer access to multiple kid friendly oceanside boatable locations / fishing offshore. Throw in the landside activities like the waterpark, Pennekamp, Dairy queen, ect. and MOM and KIDS will be HAPPY.

Then YOU can enjoy what you want to do THE MOST!

When both my kids (now 32 & 28) were young skulls full
of mush, I drug them to the keys every year since birth.
As they got into their teens, they kept saying, Do we
HAVE to do the keys again.......
Well guess what, Now they say, Dad when are you going to the Keys, cause we want to GO!!!!!
If you torture them while they are young some day they
come to their senses!!!!!

Sooo with that said, Take those little brats there
and make them have a good time.

Both of my kids (and grandkids) love the boating life style.

If you think that they are going to hate you, just forget it!

Oh yeah, Islamorda is not just for the rich and famous!
The Ragged Edge Resort is the poor mans paradise in the high rent district. Trust ME!!

See ya, Ken

Fr. Frank · #7 04-15-2010, 11:47 PM

We go to Bahia Honda, between Marathon and Big Pine, every year for Thanksgiving, for a week to ten days.

MasterBaiter · #8 04-16-2010, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Oh yeah, Islamorda is not just for the rich and famous!
The Ragged Edge Resort is the poor mans paradise in the high rent district. Trust ME!!

See ya, Ken

$259 a night might be cheap in the high rent area, but that is $1800 a week if I add right. 2B/2B in KCB is like $1100. That leaves $700 for fuel!!

jorgeinmiami · #9 04-16-2010, 09:37 AM

I stay at a place called Executive Bay in Islamorada/Plantation Key. It's a friend of the family that moved to NY and left us the keys
"to take care of the place"

It has its own dockage club house and pool and it's right next door to a great park with all kinds of facilities.And it seems that the kids 15 & 18 always find friends to hang out with so it works out. The only issue is a condo commander that is a real pain on anyone that does not own a unit cannot dock the boat there and they have a no pet rules which sucks. So I just rent a slip next door for the time I am there and park it over night. But you can't beat the price.
Close to a lot of attactions and eating places.

NoBones · #10 04-16-2010, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Oh yeah, Islamorda is not just for the rich and famous!
The Ragged Edge Resort is the poor mans paradise in the high rent district. Trust ME!!

See ya, Ken

$259 a night might be cheap in the high rent area, but that is $1800 a week if I add right. 2B/2B in KCB is like $1100. That leaves $700 for fuel!!

What we look at by going to the Ragged Edge is:

1-Boat ramp on site and trailer storage N/C (less fuel)
2-5 Hours from home, compared to 6 hrs. to KCB (less fuel)
3-Restaurants (More to choose from within a close distance)(Less fuel)
4-More close in reefs and wrecks (Less fuel)
5-Security, security, security!!!
Have had more then one friend stay at KCB and come back
home lighter of gear etc. !!!

Have been going to Islamorda my whole life.
When the kids were small we Motorhomed it,
when they became teenagers the M/H was not
big enough for their friends and us, so
we started renting houses in
Treasure Harbor and Venetian Shores.
When the kids became adults and moved on, hence came
the Ragged Edge...

The way I figure it my savings are about $700 in fuel by not
going further down in the keys.
All in all to each his own and whatever makes you happy.
So be it!

See ya, Ken